Paddock tree areas

Native vegetation may be cleared from paddock tree areas at a rate of one paddock tree area for each 50 hectares of landholding (or part thereof) in any 12 month period.

Clearing paddock trees under this code does not require set aside to be established; however notification to Local Land Services is required prior to clearing and for each 12 month period in which clearing is intended to be carried out.

What is a paddock tree area?

A paddock tree area means an area of native vegetation (Category 2 – regulated land) that is less than 500 square metres and is completely surrounded by cleared land (Category 1 – exempt land).

Landholding restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted on landholdings:

with less than 10% Category 2 - regulated land

on small holdings

in the Coastal Zone unless Local Land Services is satisfied the primary use of the land is for agriculture.

Treatment area restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted:

on Category 2 - vulnerable regulated land or within the buffer distance of a water body

on travelling stock reserves in the Central or Coastal Zone.

Clearing compromised native groundcover

Clearing compromised groundcover is permitted to be cleared when less than 50% of the groundcover vegetation cover comprises native species.

In order to clear groundcover under this Code, the groundcover percentages must:

be calculated in a scientific and objective manner that is appropriate to the area proposed and the species of vegetation that are present

be calculated at the time of year when the proportion of the native groundcover is likely to be at its maximum and

not be calculated if the groundcover has been significantly disturbed in the preceding six months, for example by fire, drought or heavy grazing.

Small areas

What is a small area?

A small area means an area of native vegetation (Category 2 – regulated land) that is not more than:

4 hectares in the Western Zone

3 hectares in the Central Zone

1 hectare in the Coastal Zone.

Removing native vegetation from small areas

Native vegetation may be cleared from small areas at a rate of one small area for each 250 hectares of landholding (or part thereof) in any 12 month period.

Clearing small areas requires establishment of a set aside area and certification from Local Land Services prior to clearing. The set aside area required varies according to the status of vegetation cleared.

Landholding restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted on landholdings:

with less than 10% Category 2 - regulated land

on small holdings

in the Coastal Zone unless Local Land Services is satisfied the primary use of the land is for agriculture.

Treatment area restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted:

on Category 2 - vulnerable regulated land or within the buffer distance of a water body

Removing native vegetation from regulated rural areas

In regulated rural areas, the maximum area of native vegetation clearing is capped in the three year period following publication of the code to whichever is the greater of:

25% of the estimated total area from which native vegetation may be cleared up to a cumulative maximum of 625 hectares; or

the total area from which native vegetation may be cleared up to 100 hectares.

An indicative table of the area that may be cleared is set out in Schedule 4 of the code.

This type of clearing requires establishment of a set aside area and certification from Local Land Services prior to clearing.

The set aside area required varies according to the status of vegetation cleared and the percentage of Category 2 – regulated land on the landholding.

Landholding restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted on landholdings:

with less than 10% Category 2 - regulated land

on small holdings

in the Coastal Zone unless Local Land Services is satisfied the primary use of the land is for agriculture.

Treatment area restrictions

Clearing under this division is not permitted:

on Category 2 - vulnerable regulated land or within the buffer distance of a water body

on travelling stock reserves in the Central or Coastal Zone.

Set aside requirements

If clearing a Vulnerable Ecological Community (VEC) or Endangered Ecological Community (EEC), the set aside must contain vegetation which is part of the same VEC or EEC, and a larger set aside area is required.

The set aside area may be reduced if it is of strategic landscape scale biodiversity importance or it contains vegetation that is part of a VEC or EEC (and a VEC or EEC, or vegetation of strategic importance is not being cleared).

For example, establishment of a set aside which connects vegetation along a major riparian or ridgeline corridor may be considered of strategic landscape scale biodiversity importance.

Additionally, there are set aside requirements related to the vegetation community types impacted:

On a landholding with 40% or more Category 2 - regulated land:

Vegetation Community

Set aside requirement

Vegetation which is part of an endangered ecological community

4 units set aside for each unit cleared (4:1)

Vegetation which is part of a vulnerable ecological community

3 units set aside for each unit cleared (3:1)

Vegetation which is not part of an EEC or VEC

2 units set aside for each unit clear (2:1)

On a landholding with 20% or more but less than 40% Category 2 - regulated land:

Vegetation Community

Set aside requirement

Vegetation which is part of an endangered ecological community

6 units set aside for each unit cleared (6:1)

Vegetation which is part of a vulnerable ecological community

4.5 units set aside for each unit cleared (4.5:1)

Vegetation which is not part of an EEC or VEC

3 units set aside for each unit clear (3:1)

On a landholding with less than 20% Category 2 - regulated land:

Vegetation Community

Set aside requirement

Vegetation which is part of an endangered ecological community

8 units set aside for each unit cleared (8:1)

Vegetation which is part of a vulnerable ecological community

6 units set aside for each unit cleared (6:1)

Vegetation which is not part of an EEC or VEC

4 units set aside for each unit clear (4:1)

Clearing of critically endangered ecological community not authorised

Clearing of native vegetation that forms part of a critically endangered ecological community is not authorised by the Code.

Requirements prior to undertaking permitted clearing

A mandatory code compliant certificate issued by Local areas and regulated rural areas.

For clearing paddock tree areas and compromised native groundcover, notification to Local Land Services is required at least two weeks prior to undertaking the clearing, or a landholder may obtain a voluntary code compliant certificate.

Re-categorisation of land

Areas authorised to be cleared in accordance with this Part are authorised to be re-categorised to Category 1 – exempt land.

However, paddock tree areas and areas of compromised groundcover may not be re-categorised until the clearing has taken place.

More information

To find out more about native vegetation and your options under the Land Management Framework:

contact Local Land Services on 1300 795 299

email slm.info@lls.nsw.gov.au

go to lls.nsw.gov.au/slm

call in to your nearest Local Land Services office and ask for a Sustainable Land Management officer.